Pennisetum alopecuroides plant named ‘Lemon Squeeze’

ABSTRACT

A new, distinct  Pennisetum alopecuroides  plant as shown and described, characterized by yellow-green foliage RHS color 146 C, inflorescences RHS color 151 D on 84 cm stems that start in mid-August in northern Illinois.

Latin name: Pennisetum alopecuroides.

Cultivar name: ‘Lemon Squeeze’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new form of Pennisetum alopecuroides plant named ‘Lemon Squeeze’. ‘Lemon Squeeze’ is a seedling of an unnamed Pennisetum alopecuroides, not patented, characterized by yellow-green foliage RHS color 146 C, inflorescence RHS color 151 D, on 84 cm stems that start in mid-August in northern Ill. The new plant is the result of a breeding program taking place at a wholesale perennial nursery since 2001. The seedling was grown by the inventor at a wholesale perennial nursery in Hebron, Ill. in 2018. The selection of the new plant was due to its yellow-green colored foliage RHS 146 C, inflorescence RHS color 151 D, on 84 cm stems that start in mid-August in northern Illinois. Asexual, vegetative division propagation has been the only means of reproduction. Propagation has taken place at a wholesale perennial nursery Hebron, Ill. in 2019. To date these plants have remained uniform in height. The new Pennisetum has shown to be stable and identical in reproduction to the parent after making over 500 vegetative divisions from 2019 to 2021. No plants of the new Pennisetum alopecuroides have been sold in this country, or anywhere in the world, prior to the filing of this application, nor has any disclosure of the new plant been made prior to the filing of this application with the exception of that which was disclosed by the inventor and his company, Intrinsic Perennial Gardens, Inc within one year of filing of this application and was derived directly from the inventor. This includes plants given to Walters Gardens Inc. and Proven Winners for licensing purposes. The date of the first sales anywhere in the world is from Walters Gardens, Inc. to Plant Delights Nursery, Inc. on May 17, 2021.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2001 edition. The new Pennisetum alopecuroides plant named ‘Lemon Squeeze’ has shown the characteristic of yellow-green foliage RHS color 146 C, inflorescence RHS color 145 B, on 84 cm stems that start in mid-August in northern Illinois to be unique and stable.

The parent plants were not available for comparison. Plants of the new Pennisetum can be compared to plants of Pennisetum alopecuroides known, unnamed, not patented. 1. The new Pennisetum has a height of 70 cm compared to the height of Pennisetum alopecuroides which has a height of 120 cm. 2. The new Pennisetum has an inflorescence length of 13 cm compared to Pennisetum alopecuroides which has an inflorescence length of 16 cm. 3. The new Pennisetum has a yellow-green inflorescence color compared to Pennisetum alopecuroides which has a tan inflorescence color.

Plants of the new Pennisetum can be compared to plants of Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Hameln’ not patented. 1. The new Pennisetum has a height of 70 cm compared to the height of Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Hameln’ which has a height of 90 cm. 2. The new Pennisetum has an inflorescence length of 13 cm compared to Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Hameln’ which has an inflorescence length of 10 cm. 3. The new Pennisetum has a yellow-green inflorescence color compared to Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Hameln’ which has a tan inflorescence color.

Plants of the new Pennisetum can be compared to plants of Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Moudry’, not patented. 1. The new Pennisetum has a height of 70 cm compared to the height of Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Moudry’ which has a height closer to 60 cm. 2. The new Pennisetum has a mid-August bloom time compared to Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Moudry’ which typically blooms in October.

DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS

FIG. 1. Shows a group of potted 1 gallon plants flowering in Hebron, Ill. USA.

FIG. 2. Shows a close up of the foliage and flower in Hebron, Ill. USA.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (2001). The plant herein described is a one year old, three gallon specimen grown in full sun and irrigated in Hebron, Ill.

-   Botanical classification: Pennisetum alopecuroides cultivar ‘Lemon     Squeeze’. -   Parentage: Pennisetum alopecuroides unnamed seedling selections. -   Propagation: Vegetative division. -   Plant description: Overall habit of the new Pennisetum is strongly     clumping mounds with upright stems topped by yellow-green colored     inflorescences in mid-August. Vigor is moderate to fast.     -   -   Plant height.—84 cm.         -   Plant width.—75 cm.         -   Stem diameter.—6 mm.         -   Stem color.—Varies from 146 B to 145 C. -   Foliage:     -   -   Type.—Deciduous, grass growing in culms.         -   Shape.—Blade.         -   Petiole.—None.         -   Blade length.—37 cm average, ranging from 27-47 cm.         -   Width.—8 mm.         -   Adaxial leaf description.—The leaf color is RHS color 146 C.         -   Abaxial leaf description.—The leaf color is RHS color 146 C.         -   Basal leaf sheath color.—146 C on top, 146 C bottom; some             red tips color close to 199 B.         -   Leaf Sheath.—Glabrous.         -   Auricles.—Not present.         -   Ligules.—As wide as the leaf blade, up to 2 mm tall, color             close to 159 B.         -   Collars.—Continuous, as wide as the leaf blade, less than 1             mm tall, color close to 146 C. Leaf buds are folded in the             bud stage.         -   Rhizomes or stolons.—None. The attitude of the tiller on the             culm is erect, 10-15 degrees from the culm. The culm node is             glabrous and color at the node is close to 146 C.         -   Internode.—Length 3-18 cm, 9 cm at base, avg 10 cm above             that.         -   Culm diameter and color at the internode.—6 mm, close to 146             C.         -   Fall leaf color.—163 C. -   Flower inflorescence:     -   -   Number of spike bearing tillers in the culmus.—35.         -   Inflorescence type.—Terminal bristled spike.         -   Floret color.—151 D.         -   Individual floret size.—1 mm across, 7 mm tall.         -   Another coloration and size.—172 B, 4 mm long, 0.5-1 mm             wide.         -   Stigma color and size.—Close to 145 C, 7 mm long, 1 mm wide.         -   Glume color and size.—Close to 145 C, 3 mm, 1 mm wide.         -   Bristle size—15-20 mm long, less than 1 mm wide.         -   Bristle color.—199 B.         -   Caryopsis color.—151 D, shape — elliptic.         -   Overall inflorescence spike size.—5 cm wide, 15 cm long.         -   Flower number.—Approximately 131 florets per mature spike             measuring 5 cm wide, 13 cm long.         -   Fertility.—Self-fertile, Fertile with 3 Anthers and 3             Stamens, 1 Stigma.         -   Blooming habit.—Terminal bristled spike on up to 84 cm             stems.         -   Bloom period and duration.—Mid-August into October.         -   Scent.—No scent noticed.         -   Bloom color overall.—151 D.         -   Roots.—Stiff, fibrous, and freely branching.         -   Fruit.—Seed identical to the species except size is a             slightly smaller. -   Disease resistance: Plants are not susceptible to any major pests or     diseases. Pennisetum alopecuroides plant named ‘Lemon Squeeze’. 

I claim:
 1. A new, distinct Pennisetum alopecuroides plant named ‘Lemon Squeeze’, as shown and described, characterized by yellow-green foliage RHS color 146 C, inflorescence RHS color 151 D, on 84 cm stems that start in mid-August in northern Illinois. 